29-Year-Old Becomes Youngest LC1 Chairman in Nebbi as Woman Wins Unopposed

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Nebbi Municipality recorded notable outcomes in Tuesday’s LC1 elections, with 29-year-old Brian Kumakech elected chairperson of Alengo Cell in Nebbi Hill Ward, becoming the youngest village chairperson in the municipality’s reported history. Kumakech won at Nduru-Alengo Polling Station with 97 votes, ahead of Samson Oyewa with 31 and Valerio Onegiu with six, according to results confirmed by Nebbi District Returning Officer Denis Obong.

The same elections saw Vicky Owachi of Rock View Cell in Central Ward declared elected unopposed after no other candidate submitted nomination forms. Nile Post reported that this was the first unopposed LC1 win by a woman in the area in 10 years, and that Nebbi Municipality, which has 46 villages, produced only one female LC1 chairperson in the latest exercise.

Kumakech succeeds his grandfather, Hilario Ogonya, who had led Alengo Cell since 1995. The report says Kumakech’s win also breaks a local record previously held by Fadhil Otwikende, who became chairperson of Nduru Cell at age 32 in 2018. Owachi previously served as vice chairperson under the late Nimundu Achiles, later became interim chairperson, and was directly elected in 2018 before retaining the seat.

Obong told Nile Post the elections across Nebbi District were largely peaceful, with no reported violence or malpractice. The district registered 41,384 voters across 640 villages, and 220 candidates were elected unopposed. The outcomes are significant for local governance because LC1 leaders are the first tier of elected leadership in Ugandan communities, often handling village-level administration, mobilisation and dispute resolution.